Self Leveling Target Holder

ABSTRACT

A rocking target holder for target shooting has a rocking base which supports a target mount thereon. The rocking base will move rearward in a direction away from a projectile impact upon the target mount. The rocking motion provides two functions. First, it positions the target mount substantially upright when the target holder is located on an uneven support surface. Secondly the rocking motion provides shock absorption upon the impact of a projectile with the target mount.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/335,813 filed on Jun. 20, 2022, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention herein disclosed relates generally to target holders, such as those employed with firearms and archery. More particularly, it relates to a target holder having a curved base configured to rock upon a support surface to both provide shock absorption when target shooting with high impact ammunition as well as to self level on an inclined support surface.

2. Prior Art Background of the Invention

In the art of shooting firearms and bows for archery, professional athletes, hunters, and the like all have a need to increase their accuracy when using firearms and bows. Conventionally, aiming and shooting at targets provides shooters, be they bow and arrow users or firearm users, ongoing practice to increase their marksmanship.

Conventional targets are made of paper and plastic and other materials and are generally positioned at determined distances form the person using a firearm or a bow. In this fashion, the target shooter can practice their art and concurrently learn how to adjust their aim to hit targets at various distances. Such adjustment may also include the positioning of sights on a firearm or bow to adjust for the known distance.

The positioning of the targets themselves varies depending on the venue and the target shooter. While target shooters located outside of cities can position targets on natural structures such as trees and fences, such is an unwise practice in more populated areas due to the potential long range travel of a missed shot. Consequently, the positioning of targets on target holders on hills or in front of hills and berms is one mode of insuring that missed shots only travel as far as the berm behind the target.

In cities and more populated areas and in many rural areas, there are also shooting clubs with practice ranges and commercial target shooting locations. The positioning of targets on target holders located in front of firearm and archery shooters is a common mode of providing targets for practice at varying ranges from the target shooter. Such holders are made generally of metal or wood with metal being more popular due to its ability to survive when struck by errant shots from a firearm. Conventionally, paper or plastic targets are provided at such facilities or can be purchased for use. These targets are frequently printed upon planar plastic or paper or similar material and removably attached to the target holder whereupon the target shooter, in either practice or competition, will take shots at the target downrange.

With respect to the above, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the self leveling rocking target holder herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed system herein is not limited in its application to the details of employment and to any arrangement of steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus components and configurations and methods of employment thereof as herein disclosed, are capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, all of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once the information herein is reviewed.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description for an understanding of the device and system herein and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for other target holding devices and systems. It is important, therefore, that the embodiments, objects and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus and system herein provide for a target holder for target shooting which is configured to prevent tipping over, as well as to self level a target surface when the device herein is positioned on an uneven support surface, such as an incline.

The target holding device herein is adapted for positioning on a support surface using a rocking base. Such a rocking base employs at least one and preferably two rocking members. To allow the rocking base to rock, the rocking members are curved and engaged at central areas thereof to one or a plurality of upright members which support a target, target mount, or a target positioning surface, which is held elevated above the rocking members. One or a pair of upright support members are preferably positioned in a central area of the rocking members. So positioned, the target or target supporting surface will automatically position to one which is substantially perpendicular to the view of the shooter even when the device is located on an incline.

The rocking base provided by the included rocking members on the device will cause the target holder to rock rearward should the target shooter shoot a projectile such as a bullet or an arrow which contacts the device. This rearward motion defines a shock absorbing function for the device and prevents tipping over upon such projectile contacts which are surprisingly frequent on shooting ranges and in other target shooting facilities.

With respect to the above summary description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the rocking and self leveling target holding device and system herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of operation nor the arrangement of the components or the steps set forth in the following description or illustrations in the drawings. The various methods of implementation and operation of the device herein, are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art upon their review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis by others for designing of other modes for carrying out the several purposes of the present rocking and self leveling target holder. Therefore, the objects and claims herein should be regarded as including such equivalent construction, steps, and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As used in the claims to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements. Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements. Where used herein, if not otherwise defined, the term “substantially” means plus or minus five percent.

It is an object of this invention to provide a target holder which is configured to rock to provide shock absorption of the force of projectiles hitting it and thereby maintain an upright positioning.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a rocking and target holder which will self level when placed on an uneven or inclined support surface to thereby maintain the target substantially perpendicular to the aim of the target shooter using it.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a target holder which will rock and absorb shock upon projectile impact but has rocking limiters to prevent overturning of the target holder.

These together with other objects and advantages, which become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of the construction and operation of the target holder device and system herein as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Further objectives of this invention may be ascertained by those skilled in the art as brought out in the following part of the specification wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing any limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed rocking and self leveling target holder device and system herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the target holder device herein showing a target engaging member positioned between two upright members engaged with rocking members.

FIG. 2 shows depictions of other modes of the target holder device herein, wherein one or a plurality of removable targets are positionable on target mounting areas.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the target holder herein showing one of two rocking members on which upright members are positioned to hold targets thereon.

FIG. 4 shows the device as in FIGS. 1-3 wherein the upright members will cause the rocking members to rotate on the uneven underlying surface such that the upright members assume a substantially perpendicular stance to a target shooter aiming at a target thereon.

FIG. 5 depicts the device herein in a mode having a rotational engagement of the target member thereby allowing angular adjustment of the target mount and any target thereon.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the device, as in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 shows a mode of the device herein, wherein the target member is removably engaged so as to allow for a fast change out of the target mount and/or a target positioned thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right, first, second, and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and all such terms are used for convenience only and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the rocking target holding device and system has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-7 , wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a frontal view of the target holder device 10 herein. As shown, a target member 12 has a target mount 13 connected to the target member 12 and is configured for removable or permanent engagement to a target 14 thereon.

In some modes of the device 10, the target mount 13 may be the target 14 itself and may have targeting indicia 16 thereon, such as where the target mount 13 is formed of metal and connected to the target member 12. In other modes of the device the target 14 may be formed on paper or plastic or the like and adhered to the target mount 13, thereby allowing targets 14 of differing size and configuration to be employed with the device 10.

Also shown in FIG. 1 and the other figures herein, the target member 12 and the target mount 13 are in operative engagement with a rocking base 15. By rocking base 15 is meant that at least one rocking member, shown as a first rocking member 18, is coupled with at least one upright member, such as the first upright member 22 which itself is coupled to the target member 12.

While the device 10 may function with a rocking base 15, having only one or the first rocking member 18, if it were formed in a wider configuration than depicted, it has been found in experimentation that a significant increase in stability from tipping over is provided by forming a rocking base 15 which includes the second rocking member 20. This second rocking member 20 is coupled to a second upright member 24, which itself is in an engagement to an opposite end of the target member 12 from the first upright member 22.

As such, while a single rocking member may be employed to form the rocking base 15, which is connected to and supports the target mount 13 by at least one upright member 20 or 22, and such is included in the scope of this application, it is particularly preferred that the device 10 have a rocking base 15 which includes a first rocking member 20 and a second rocking member 22. In this preferred mode, both of the first and second rocking members are coupled to and support the target mount 13, such as with a connection to the target member 12 by the respective upright members 22 and 24.

In all modes of the device 10, the first rocking member 18 and the second rocking member 20 are formed in a curve between distal ends thereof, such as is better shown in FIGS. 3-4 . It is the rocking motion of the rocking base 15 of the device 10, when struck by a projectile, such as a high caliber bullet, that forms and imparts a shock absorption to the device 10. This shock absorption is provided when the rocking base 15 rocks rearward from the side of the target mount 13 struck by a projectile to absorb the shock. The rocking thus prevents the elevated target mount 13 from falling over onto the support surface 26.

The radius of the arch or curve of the rocking members 18-20 can be variable depending on the anticipated force of an impact from a projectile and the length of the upright members between the rocking member 18 or 20 and the supported target mount 13, such as on a target member 12. Such can be determined by experimentation with different impact forces communicated to the target member 12 to ascertain the most resistance to tipping over and the natural rock returning the upright 22 or 24 to a perpendicular positioning to the shooter. Currently, such can be calculated for most impact forces by forming the radius R of the rocking member 18 or 20 in a ratio to the length L of the upright member 22 or 24, where quotient of R/L equals between 3.0 to 4.0. Currently, R/L equaling substantially 3.14 or Pi appears to provide the rocking motion to absorb shock while still returning the upright or uprights 22 and 24 to a substantially perpendicular positioning relative to the linear line of sight of the target shooter to the target, with the rocking stopping sooner. However, testing of the rocking motion of the rocking base 15 to provide sufficient movement upon an impact to the device 10 to absorb shock to prevent a tip-over, while concurrently ceasing the rocking afterward, may yield a different calculation

In FIG. 2 is shown depictions of other modes of the device which employ a target mount 13 which connects to the target member 12. The target member 12 extends in between engagements to the first upright member 22 and second upright member 24. In this mode of the device 10, one or a plurality of paper or other planar targets may be attached to the target mount 13 which is shown as a large planar area adapted for such. Alternatively, the target mount 13 may have indicia thereon making it the target.

Shown in FIG. 3 is a side view of the target holder device herein. As shown, rocking base 15 includes the rocking member 18 or 20 which is formed in an arch or curved shape and as a radius R. At least one upright member 22 or 24 is coupled at a first end thereof to a central location of a rocking member and extends to a second end. The at least one upright, as shown, has a length L between the first and second end. As also shown in FIG. 3 , the axis 17 of one or both upright members will move to be substantially perpendicular to a level underlying support surface 26. This positions any target connected to the target member 12 substantially perpendicular and providing a clear line of sight of a target shooter aiming at a target located on the device 10.

The preferred configuration, shown in FIG. 3 and also shown in FIG. 4 , shows the rocking action of the rocking base of the device 10 in all modes herein. This rocking action automatically positions any target on the target member 12 or target mounts 13 to be substantially perpendicular to an imaginary line of sight 30 of a target shooter viewing the target on the device 10 even when, as shown, the underlying surface 26 is slightly slanted, rather than level, as in FIG. 3 .

Additionally shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a bump stop 28 which may be positioned at one or both ends of a rocking member 18 or 20. These bump stops 28, while optional, are preferable for inclusion where large caliber weapons are being employed to limit the rearward rocking travel from high force impacts which could tip the device 10 over in some instances.

Shown in FIG. 5 is another preferred mode of the device 10 herein, wherein the target member 12 is operatively engaged to the rocking base in a rotational engagement 32 thereto. As shown, the rotational engagement 32 allows for rotation of a central area 19 of the target member 12 and a tilting of the target mount 13 engaged to the central area 19, when needed, such as where the device 10 is positioned on an incline, shown in FIG. 6 . The rotational engagement 32 preferred is one where there is a rotational connector 33 with a clutch or fixed stop that will hold the target mount 13 at a chosen angle, such as by rotation of the target member 12 where connected thereto.

Shown in FIG. 5 is a rotational engagement 32 which is provided by an adjustable rotational connector 33 having a first side which is adjustable to multiple fixed positions with a second side. Such may be provided by a rotational connector with a biased or spring loaded clutch, which will contact the second side of the rotational connector. Such which will allow it to rotate but hold position, once turned by the user under force. Of course, other rotational connectors providing rotational engagements 32 with adjustable connectors having a mechanical engagement, such as a screw or bolt, can be used, or other connectors which will provide an adjustable but fixed positioning.

The adjustability provided by the rotational engagement 32 is depicted, for example, in FIG. 6 . As shown, the rotational engagement 32, using the adjustable connector, allows for an angled positioning of the target mount 13 relative to the axis 17 of the supporting upright 22 or 24.

Shown in FIG. 7 is the device 10 having a rocking base 15 which is coupled to the target mount 13 to support the target mount 13 elevated above the rocking base 15. In this mode, the target mount 13 is removably engageable to the rocking base 15. This removable engagement, as shown, is provided by mounts 34 which will removably engage with the distal ends, one upright, where one is employed, or both the first upright 22 and second upright 24, where two are used. As shown, each mount 34 is slidably engageable upon or within the distal end of the upright 22 or 24.

While not shown, the target mount 13 may be in a rotational engagement 32 with the target member 12, having the connectors 34 thereon, to allow the user to engage a target mount 13 which is fixed in vertical positioning or to engage a target mount 13 which is angularly adjustable as in FIG. 6 .

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the rocking and self leveling target device and system herein, have been shown herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure. It will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.

It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art, upon viewing this disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rocking target holder apparatus comprising: a rocking base having a first end for positioning upon a support surface and having a second end; and said second end of said rocking base coupled to a target mount for holding a target positioned thereon.
 2. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said rocking base having a first curved rocking member thereon which is positionable upon a support surface; said rocking base coupled to said target mount by a first upright; said first upright engaged at a first end with said first curved rocking member; and said first upright engaged at a second end with one of said target mount or a target member engaged with said target mount.
 3. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said rocking base having a first curved rocking member and having a second curved rocking member; a first upright engaged at a first end thereof to a central area of said first curved rocking member; a second curved upright engaged at a first end thereof to a central area of said second curved rocking member; a target member in an engagement at a first end thereof, to a second end of said first upright; said target member engaged at a second end thereof to a second end of said second upright; said target mount positioned upon said target member in between said first end of said target member and said second end of said target member; and wherein upon impact of a projectile a rearward rocking of said target mount in a direction away from said impact, will thereby absorb force from said impact.
 4. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said first curved rocking member having a first contact surface for positioning upon said support surface; said second curved rocking member having a second contact surface for positioning upon said support surface; a first bump stop extending from said first contact surface; a second bump stop extending from said second contact surface; and contact of said first bump stop and of said second bump with said support surface limiting said rearward rocking of said rocking base.
 5. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said engagement of said first end of said target member to said second end of said first upright being a first removable engagement; said engagement of said second end of said target member to said second end of said second upright being a second removable engagement, whereby said targeting member with said target mount attached thereto is removably engageable with said rocking base.
 6. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising: said engagement of said first end of said target member to said second end of said first upright being a first removable engagement; said engagement of said first end of said target member to said second end of said second upright being a second removable engagement, whereby said targeting member with said target mount attached thereto is removably engageable with said rocking base.
 7. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said engagement of said first end of said target member to said first upright being a first rotational engagement; said engagement of said second end of said target member to said second upright being a second rotational engagement; and said target member being rotatable to position said target mount to varying angled positions.
 8. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising: said engagement of said first end of said target member to said first upright being a first rotational engagement; said engagement of said second end of said target member to said second upright being a second rotational engagement; and said target member being rotatable to position said target mount to varying angled positions.
 9. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 5 additionally comprising: a first rotating connector engaged between said first end of said target member and a central area of said target member connected to said target mount; a second rotating connector engaged between said second end of said target member and said central area of said target member; and said central area of said target member rotatable to position said target mount to varying angular positions.
 10. The rocking target holder apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising: a first rotating connector engaged between said first end of said target member and a central area of said target member connected to said target mount; a second rotating connector engaged between said second end of said target member and said central area of said target member; and said central area of said target member rotatable to position said target mount to varying angular positions. 